Extraction questions

[terriscrapper]

I would like to extract little girls from a photo..basically too much else going on in the photo...I've done blurring backgrounds and also desaturation and recoloring back in. (which I loved). I've done collages also. I've basically done one extraction...where I put a white mat over the top and erased enough to let the extraction show through...not sure what to do with this one...I really don't like the ragged edges so it does look better to actually "hide" the edges.I need some suggestions on this please!!! I'm basically just wanting to put them in a simple layout...do you think it's best to just do the recoloring and stay away from extractions??? Are they more for collages????:confused:

Also, would someone explain to me how and when to use frame effects?? :confused:

[terriscrapper]

Hi! Me Again! Can anyone help me with this please???

[Kaysmail]

I'm really not the most experienced in the bunch to help you out but I have used the marquee tool to get most of what I want to extract, and placed it on a new layer (control j). Then I've used the magic wand to extract away as much as I can (zoom way in as necessary), and again, place that on a new layer (turn each of the previous layers off so they don't show - click on the little eye icon for each layer), and then zoom way in and erase away. Not perfect but it does work pretty good. I'm sure there is a much better way but I work on a Mac with PSE 4.01 so I don't have some of the newer, more efficient tools. Good luck.

[rae vogl]

HI. For extractions there are so many ways to do it and several tools to use. One way is to use a layer mask and brush and use the black or white foreground colors to "paint" on your image. You can switch back and forth between foreground colors to add or subtract from your image til it's how you want it. Another way-if there is a lot of contrast is to use the magnetic lasso tool. I sometimes use the regular lasso for a rough outline and then zoom in and refine the outline by using the shift or alt keys to add or subtract from the first attempt-using a small feather on any of the extractions will give a smoother edge and sometimes when I put the extracted inage on the layout I use a small brush and run the blur tool around the very edges to soften them a bit. I don't know what exactly you mean by using frame effects so can't help you there,but hope this helps some. I just bought the November issue of Photoshop Creative magazine and there is a section in that on extraction tools. Otherwise try doing a search for tutorials. Linda also has some extraction tutorials on her CDs

[terriscrapper]

Thanks for your responses! I did use the mask, also changed the mode to mask...got the background red, then used the selection tool to get rid of the excess..I actually think it looks alright...it's when I move it...It looks so "cut out"! I don't know whether to paint it into a background paper, (like a collage) or what, I'm not sure some kind of overlay would work?? The reason I extracted it is that theres too much going on in the photo. I really just want to put it within a frame,, but need some ideas on the backgound so it doesn't look so stark.
What I was talking about with frames...they are in the effects pallette...I never knew how to use them.
I do have Linda's C'D's. They're great...I do use them...the problem I have, is trying to extract people and around hair!!